The idea behind this blog is to educate/help/enlighten and not to create controversy or to incite. The opinions and views expressed on this blog are purely personal. Please be soft in your language, respect Copyrights and provide credits/links wherever possible.The blog team indemnifies itself of any legal issues that may arise out of any information/ views posted by anyone on the blog.

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

It has been eight hours since we last talked – sleep eludes me and memories keep flushing down, sometimes as tears. Our day, 27th July, began at 12 noon, when we took our seats in the flight to Guhawati. Dr. Kalam was 1A and I was IC. He was wearing a dark colored “Kalam suit”, and I started off complimenting, “Nice color!” Little did I know this was going to be the last color I will see on him.

oLong, 2.5 hours of flying in the monsoon weather. I hate turbulence, and he had mastered over them. Whenever he would see me go cold in shaking plane, he would just pull down the window pane and saw, “Now you don’t see any fear!”. That was followed by another 2.5 hours of car drive to IIM Shillong. For these two legged trip of five hours we talked, discussed and debated. These were amongst hundreds of the long flights and longer drives we have been together over the last six years.

As each of them, this was as special too. Three incidents/discussions in particular will be “lasting memories of our last trip”.

First, Dr. Kalam was absolutely worried about the attacks in Punjab. The loss of innocent lives left him filled with sorrow. The topic of lecture at IIM Shillong was Creating a Livable Planet Earth. He related the incident to the topic and said, “it seems the man made forces are as big a threat to the livability of earth as pollution”. We discussed on how, if this trend of violence, pollution and reckless human action continues we will forced to leave earth. “Thirty years, at this rate, maybe”, he said. “You guys must do something about it… it is going to be your future world”

Our second discussion was more national. For the past two days, Dr. Kalam was worried that time and again Parliament, the supreme institution of democracy, was dysfunctional. He said, “I have seen two different governments in my tenure. I have seen more after that. This disruption just keeps happening. It is not right. I really need to find out a way to ensure that the parliament works on developmental politics.”

He then asked me to prepare a surprise assignment question for the students at IIM Shillong, which he would give them only at the end of the lecture. He wanted to them to suggest three innovative ways to make the Parliament more productive and vibrant. Then, after a while he returned on it. “But how can ask them to give solutions if I don’t have any myself”. For the next one hour, we thwarted options after options, who come up with his recommendation over the issue. We wanted to include this discussion in our upcoming book, Advantage India.

Third, was an experience from the beauty of his humility. We were in a convoy of 6-7 cars. Dr. Kalam and I were in the second car. Ahead us was an open gypsy with three soldiers in it. Two of them were sitting on either side and one lean guy was standing atop, holding his gun. One hour into the road journey, Dr. Kalam said, “Why is he standing? He will get tired. This is like punishment. Can you ask a wireless message to given that he may sit?” I had to convince him, he has been probably instructed to keep standing for better security. He did not relent. We tried radio messaging, that did not work. For the next 1.5 hours of the journey, he reminded me thrice to see if I can hand signal him to sit down. Finally, realizing there is little we can do – he told me, “I want to meet him and thank him”.

Later, when we landed in IIM Shillong, I went inquiring through security people and got hold of the standing guy. I took him inside and Dr. Kalam greeted him. He shook his hand, said thank you buddy. “Are you tired? Would you like something to eat? I am sorry you had to stand so long because of me”. The young lean guard, draped in black cloth, was surprised at the treatment. He lost words, just said, “Sir, aap ke liye to 6 ghante bhi khade rahenge”.

After this, we went to the lecture hall. He did not want to be late for the lecture. “Students should never be made to wait”, he always said. I quickly set up his mike, briefed on final lecture and took position on the computers. As I pinned his mike, he smiled and said, “Funny guy! Are you doing well?” ‘Funny guy’, when said by Kalam could mean a variety of things, depending on the tone and your own assessment. It could mean, you have done well, you have messed up something, you should listen to him or just that you have been plain naïve or he was just being jovial. Over six years I had learnt to interpret Funny Guy like the back of my palm. This time it was the last case.

“Funny guy! Are you doing well?” he said. I smiled back, “Yes”. Those were the last words he said. Two minutes into the speech, sitting behind him, I heard a long pause after completing one sentence. I looked at him, he fell down. We picked him up. As the doctor rushed, we tried whatever we could. I will never forget the look in his three-quarter closed eyes and I held his head with one hand and tried reviving with whatever I could. His hands clenched, curled onto my finger. There was stillness on his face and those wise eyes were motionlessly radiating wisdom. He never said a word. He did not show pain, only purpose was visible.

In five minutes we were in the nearest hospital. In another few minutes the they indicated the missile man had flown away, forever. I touched his feet, one last time. Adieu old friend! Grand mentor! See you in my thoughts and meet in the next birth.

As turned back, a closet of thoughts opened. Often he would ask me, “You are young, decide what will like to be remembered for?” I kept thinking of new impressive answers, till one day I gave up and resorted to tit-for-tat. I asked him back, “First you tell me, what will you like to be remembered for? President, Scientist, Writer, Missile man, India 2020, Target 3 billion…. What?” I thought I had made the question easier by giving options, but he sprang on me a surprise. “Teacher”, he said.

Then something he said two weeks back when we were discussing about his missile time friends. He said, “Children need to take care of their parents. It is sad that sometimes this is not happening”. He paused and said, “Two things. Elders must also do. Never leave wealth at your deathbed – that leaves a fighting family. Second, one is blessed is one can die working, standing tall without any long drawn ailing. Goodbyes should be short, really short”.

Today, I look back – he took the final journey, teaching, what he always wanted to be remembered doing. And, till his final moment he was standing, working and lecturing. He left us, as a great teacher, standing tall. He leaves the world with nothing accumulated in his account but loads of wishes and love of people. He was a successful, even in his end.

Will miss all the lunches and dinners we had together, will miss all the times you surprised me with your humility and startled me with your curiosity, will miss the lessons of life you taught in action and words, will miss our struggles to race to make into flights, our trips, our long debates. You gave me dreams, you showed me dreams need to be impossible, for anything else is a compromise to my own ability. The man is gone, the mission lives on. Long live Kalam.

It is sad to see the ostrich-like attitude adopted by the present government towards the on-going peaceful protests across the country by the veterans relating to the implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP). There are no two schools of thought regarding the legitimacy of the demand. The present government, as indeed its predecessors, has accepted that the demand is just and the veterans need to be compensated. Why then are unnecessary impediments being created? Are there some segments or powerful entities that are bent on scuttling this righteous demand and if so, do they understand the implications?

The protests by the most disciplined, apolitical and loyal segment of the nation’s polity, which are steadily increasing, should make all citizens of the nation do a double-take and ponder as to why the government’s reaction is so muted and routine. They need to reflect over its implications – both long and short term, on the highly adverse impact it is having on the security of the nation.

Most veterans in the country continue to have faith and confidence in the political acumen of Prime Minister Modi. They continue to believe that the Prime Minister understands ground realities, is perceptive and unlike many politicians understands what adverse repercussions may accrue if this emotive and close to the heart issue for over 30 lakh veterans continues to be ignored, but do his advisers understand this? I have my grave doubts; otherwise the issue would not have reached the current impasse.

The numbers of all ranks involved in the protests, from ‘Jawans to Generals’, are increasing on a daily basis. The involvement is in a variety of ways and the pointers are that there is unlikely to be any let-up in these large-scale protests. On the contrary, escalation both horizontally and vertically, is on the cards and may come sooner than later. It therefore behooves the political establishment to take serious note of these important developments.

It appears that the government has overlooked that planning and execution of a mission comes naturally to ‘soldiers’ (used in a generic sense) and does not get rusted merely because they have shed their uniforms. The run of the mill adviser may not understand this, but political leaders must, for they do develop a sharp nose for ground realities. Why then is this government dithering and churning out moronic excuses - like more time needed; inadequacy of funds; difficult calculations by the pundits sitting in the concerned ministries, departments and subordinate offices in various parts of the country; and the excuse that the demand may have a spiraling effect among other government employees. It is well known that all these issues have been analysed threadbare and hence the military cannot comprehend this inordinate and unnecessary delay.

OROP has been through the crucible of fire not once but many times and has passed through the scrutiny of a large number of specialists, including Parliamentarians, dealing with practically every aspect of governance. It has been considered, accepted and promised by every political party that has been in power in the past. The same is the case with the present government. Even those political parties that have euphemistically ‘merged’ and re-emerged in different avatars and under new names have given a thumbs up to it over the last nearly four decades. All military personnel, both serving and retired, are therefore bewildered at this turn of events, especially as they had great faith in the present government, which had explicitly and on numerous occasions emphatically accepted the concept in totality.

Every facet of the legitimacy of the demand, its background and its nuances has already been highlighted in considerable detail. It will therefore be repetitive if I again detail its history, the arguments and its dire need. However, I do want to dilate on the perils and pitfalls if the government continues to procrastinate and delays its implementation.

The surge of veterans who are now involved in the on-going agitation and the complete support it is getting from all ranks, should make all decision-makers sit up and reflect deeply. In our country, protests, agitations and associated actions are not new. The difference here is the peaceful nature and the geographical expanse of the protests; where discipline and gentlemanly behavior stand out; the pains being taken to keep the hot-heads under tight control; and the indisputable legitimacy and fairness of the demand. This needs to be commended and not visualized as a weakness.

The longer the government dithers; it may not be possible for the leaders to keep effective control. The training, ethos, love for the nation and the willingness to make sacrifices are the hallmarks of the military. While all these are positive qualities, it does not take long for negativity to seep in. Political acumen; statesmanship; and reading signals correctly; translate in to good governance. The time has come for the government to act and the earlier it does so the better it will be for the nation.

Let me make an important, nay a crucial point now. The veteran of today is the serving person of yesterday and the serving soldier of today is the veteran of tomorrow. There is a symbiotic relationship between the two. I have no doubt that responsible political leaders understand this, but every politician is neither responsible nor savvy about the ground realities, although many pretend to be so! Those with vested interests have spread a canard that the veterans are ‘spent cartridges’ and their activities have no relevance to the active fraternity. How wrong can one be, but then we are talking about advisers who, as well as their progeny, have never heard even a shot fired in anger!

The grapevine is already talking about restiveness among our serving comrades. I have no doubt that the hierarchies of the services, especially the three Chiefs and commanders down the chain are keeping a close watch on the morale and motivation of the troops and conveying their assessments to the political masters, but at times subjectivity does creep in. There is also the important factor of information being filtered, as we are still in the unfortunate mode of a bureaucratic layer that separates the military hierarchy from the political leadership. A third but important factor is the tendency in some to suppress bad news, in the hope that it will disappear over time and unfortunately military leaders are as susceptible to this as others!

It is not my intention to spread alarm and despondency, but having spent long years in uniform and at many levels, it is not too difficult to read and analyze signals in a methodical manner. People like me also keep their ears to the ground and learn from friends, erstwhile colleagues and serving children of veteran officers and jawans, which enables one to form usually correct opinions. Prudence and perspicuity demand that our political leadership takes a realistic view and not listen to ill-considered advice of know-it-all advisers, who disappear at the first sign of trouble and are well known to cover their backs when the chips are down!

All governments in the past have succumbed to the blandishments of their advisers and have downgraded & degraded the Indian Military in every aspect of its functioning during the past 67 years. Sadly, the political establishment in the past has looked the other way. While this is not the subject of this essay, it cannot and must not continue if we are genuinely interested in the security and sovereignty of the nation and want it to grow strong in every respect.

Security of the nation is far too important to be sacrificed at the instigation and whims and fancies of persons with vested interests. I appeal to the powers that be, and particularly to Prime Minister Modi and Raksha Mantri Parrikar to take an early and positive decision and not follow what an erstwhile Prime Minister, Shri Narsiman Rao had stated in Parliament - “Taking no decision is also a decision”!

DUE UNBEARABLE ORDEAL OF FASTING ESM, I REQUEST PERMISSION TO END MY LIFE

Dear Sir,

I am a retired army Officer with a spotless service of 25 years. I have been watching the promises and more promises of our endless leaders since 1982 and even the present Prime Ministers since Nov 2013 regarding payment of One Rank One Pension. The parliament has passed it and even the Hon'able Supreme Court has upheld it. But still no govt has translated their promises into action.

You being our Supreme commander, I am writing this to you. I have given up any hope from any govt of this country and feel ashamed when I see my brothers of the age of 80-85 years old sitting on fast at Jantar Mantar for the last 36 days. You will appreciate that this agitation has been totally peaceful despite all the provocations. May be that is precisely the reason that nothing is moving at the govt's end. But at the same time I can never allow my brother ESM to take recourse to violence, as all soldiers love their country more than any one. I will never allow my brothers in active service to break the sacred thread of democratic traditions. Some head of the country said “You guard the national boundary and I will guard your welfare”, but in INDIA it is a different story.

I find myself a failure towards my brothers in and out of the Armed Forces. I am losing the desire to live. As I can not even fight with the powers that be at the helms of affairs as any violent fight with them may cause irreparable loss to my country. I also can not tolerate my countrymen saying that, if a Prime Minister cannot keep the promise given to soldiers of his country what promise he can keep to the Nation.

I am sure you will agree that if a soldier cannot live with dignity at least he should be allowed to die with dignity

In view of the above, I kindly request for your permission to end my life as it has become unbearable for me to live any more.

Anyway, the date, place and time will be informed once a positive reply is received from The Supreme Commander.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has condoled the passing away of former President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. “India mourns the loss of a great scientist, a wonderful President and above all an inspiring individual. Rest in peace Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.

Dr. Kalam…my mind is filled with so many memories, so many interactions with him. Always marvelled at his intellect, learnt so much from him.

Dr. Kalam enjoyed being with people; people and youngsters adored him. He loved students and spent his final moments among them”, the Prime Minister said.

If the Govt aims to
divide the veteran community, it must remember that they have a lot to learn
from their masters about communal carnages and insurgencies.

It has been more than a month since
the military veteran community commenced its symbolic relay hunger strike at
the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and at other towns across the country to protest
against the delay in implementation of the one-rank-one-pension scheme that had
earlier been accepted by the Government. That PM Narendra Modi and his advisors
are unmoved by this unprecedented act on the part of those who have willingly
made sacrifices for the security and integrity of this nation, tells us more
about Mr Modi's wisdom, character and statesmanship, or lack thereof, despite all
pretensions and posturing to the contrary. It is worth remembering that among
those fighting for this cause are veterans of all wars that this country faced
since independence.

Symbolism counts, especially in a
poor and developing country like ours. Mr Modi knew about this, and was able to
use it to a great extent on his way to the PMship. Unfortunately, he and his
advisors failed to understand one simple truth, that symbolism without
substance is hollow and a sham. It is seen through very quickly. That it has
been an a grievous error of judgment on part of such an astute politician, is
indeed surprising, given the fact that this is one war,he can never win.

In fact, the bureaucracy has been
fighting a rearguard battle ever since the 2009 judgement by the Supreme Court
in the Major General SPS Veins (retired) and others case. It had then ruled
that “no defence personnel, senior in rank could get a lower pension than his
junior, irrespective of the date of retirement, and that similarly placed officers
of the same rank should be given the same pension irrespective of the date of
retirement”, in effect of the OROP.

That the BJP has nobody but itself to
blame, is obvious as it paints itself as the villain of the piece hemorrhaging
goodwill. That this occurred despite its Govt having agreed to implement the
directions of the court as late as Feb 17 this year, during the hearing on a
contempt petition filed by Maj Gen SPS Veins is in itself a mystery as well.

In another twist to the ongoing saga,
media reports have suggested that Addl Solicitor Gen, Ms Pinky Anand, recently
informed the court that the “Centre would grant OROP to the petitioners in
three to four days”. While one would like to believe that the Govt has learnt
its lessons and is now looking to cut its losses and clear up the whole
mess, apprehensions continue to be
expressed that the Govt, in another move to delay the inevitable, may clear
OROP scheme for Maj Gens only, the petitioners in the case at point, and
thereby attempt to divide the veteran community.

If this were to be the case, then it
may be worth remembering that, while we have certainly picked up the fine art
of dividing from our former masters, we still have a lot to learn from them
about ruling, communal carnages and insurgencies. One can state with absolute
certainty that Mr Modi's actions would then be worse than those of Jawaharlal
Nehru and Krishna Menon, his Defence Minister, which resulted in the 1962
debacle. Not only can it lead to disharmony and finger pointing within the
veteran community and provide support to those within the community, who
believe that only strong action gets the Govt to acquiesce, but worse,
adversely impact serving personnel by creating friction within it. By turning
the ethos of ‘service before self’, that has been the cornerstone of this
Army's professional excellence through the years, on its head; the Govt would
make the position of the senior hierarchy morally untenable.

While veteran General officers
affected by such a decision, will in all probability, could refuse to accept
such a decision and can even approach the Supreme Court to modify its direction
to include all affected personnel, thereby avoiding a spate of litigation that
is bound to occur. However, serving officers will not have such a choice and
will be confronted by a moral dilemma not of their making.

The adverse impact of
the divide between those eligible for OROP and those who would miss out is not
difficult to foresee. In fact, it certainly is one of the major factors
that impacts the functioning and performance of our central Armed Forces, where
officers from the IAS/IPS rule the roost, while the rest are left to their own
devices. The fact that they superannuate at 59 or 60 years of age, is a saving
grace. Surely, even our politicians understand the implications of reducing our
military to such a sorry state.

NEW DELHI: President Pranab Mukherjee today condoled the death ofA P J Abdul Kalam and said the nation has lost a great son who was people's President during his lifetime and shall remain so even after his death. In his message to the nation on the demise of Dr Kalam, the President said, "I pay respectful homage to my late departed friend Kalam."

File photo: Former President APJ Abdul Kalam.Terming the death as his personal loss, the President said Dr Kalam was immensely popular and greatly admired. "His warmth, humility and simple ways endeared him to one and all. He had a special love for children and sought to constantly inspire the youth of our country through motivational speeches and personal interaction," President Mukherjee said.

He said Dr Kalam will be long remembered for his passion for science and innovations and his contributions as an eminent scientist, administrator, educationists and writer.

His achievements as the leader of India's defence research vastly enhanced the safety and security of of the nation."For his tireless services to the nation, he was honoured with numerous prestigious awards," the President said.

"In his passing away, we have lost a great son of India who dedicated his entire life for the welfare of the motherland and its people." "Dr Kalam was a people's President during his lifetime and will remain so even after his death," he said.

SKS: I too was blessed to see him closely when I was posted in chief of staff committee at south block during 94-96

27 Jul 15, 10:00 PM

SKS: A great loss to nation and to me too as an Indian. Love you immensly Sir !!.

27 Jul 15, 09:51 PM

SgtMPKaran: one of our GH staff. But he was full of smiles and grace. He said not to worry about it and made be comfortable before I began to brief him. I never seem such a great but simple person in my life

27 Jul 15, 09:45 PM

SgtMPKaran: and said "yes. I am Islam and you.,..?" . The moment. heard that my heart skipped a beat. I profusely apologized to him fir mistaking for

27 Jul 15, 09:41 PM

SgtMPKaran: reception counter and reading a news paper. I just touched him on his soldier and asked him whether Dr. Islam arrived and is he available in his room? The person turned to me and said with a smile

27 Jul 15, 09:38 PM

SgtMPKaran: I never met him in person earlier. I went to our reception counter at GH to enquire about hid availability in the room. A short person with a checked lunging and banian was standing near the

27 Jul 15, 09:35 PM

SgtMPKaran: He was to arrive by 9pm flight and stay in our guest house. I went to the GH at about 9.30 to brief him on next day's meeting and hand over the papers.

27 Jul 15, 09:33 PM

SgtMPKaran: My first meeting with him was unusual and fresh in my memory. We have invited him as the chairman of a recruitment board to our institute at Bangalore. I was the Oi/c of recruitment.

27 Jul 15, 09:29 PM

SgtMPKaran: I had worked with Dr. Abdul Islam closely for nearly an year. A human being -par excellence, simple, honest and dedicated person. May his soul rest in peace!

KIND ATTENTION - ALL BLOGGERS

Dear Friends,On 04.3.10 Someone(Scotland Address)hacked e-mail gavinivn@gmail.com & had been misusing for wrongful monetory gain. Please do not believe any story from this e-mail, with the name G Venkatanarayana (impersonated by hacker) seeking for any help, financial or otherwise. Thanks.